Streaming-based media system

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a system and method for processing or editing media contents. The media system comprises a transcoding apparatus which preferably receives high-resolution media data and converts them into a media stream with low resolution and a media stream with high resolution and provides them with an identical media stream identifier. The images of the media data in the two media streams are provided with identical identification codes by the transcoding apparatus. A logging apparatus receives the media stream with low resolution and displays the media data to a user. The logging apparatus provides the media data as a whole, individual image sequences or images therefrom with metadata. The individual metadata are allocated to individual image sequences or images of the media stream with low resolution using the identification codes and are logically combined with the media data using the media stream identifier.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a National Phase of PCT Patent Application No.PCT/EP2012/005112 having International filing date of Dec. 11, 2012,which claims the benefit of priority of German Patent Application No. 102011 120 911.9 filed on Dec. 12, 2011. The contents of the aboveapplications are all incorporated by reference as if fully set forthherein in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a system for processing or editing mediacontent and to appropriate methods for tagging, storing and for thecutting and distribution of media data.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Media Asset Management (MAM) Systems

Systems referred to as media asset management (MAM) systems or digitalasset management (DAM) systems permit efficient management ofmulti-media information (media contents) and thus allow to achieveeconomic benefits and competitive advantages.

A “media asset” typically describes a form of content which is providedfor use in electronic systems in a structured, weakly structured andunstructured form. A “media asset” consists of multi-media unstructuredinformation objects (such as audio and video) and of structuredmeta-information. By adding structured metadata, a media informationobject representing merely information becomes a “valued asset” which isavailable, researchable, reusable and can also be commercially traded.The structured metadata contain for example information about theauthor, copy rights, creation date and format information as well ascontent descriptions, technical and content-related classifications orratings.

A MAM system manages random contents (media assets) about metadata anddatabases and controls access and use in connection with a digitalrights management (DRM) and accounting system. MAM systems are designedfor high scalability in order to store very large amounts of data andarranged for the conversion of contents in order to make the storedcontents available in different formats for online use and fordistribution.

The MAM system provides for the reception, storage, categorising,indexing and provision of media assets on the premise of permitting highediting speeds and optimal reuse. The basic set-up of a MAM systemincludes functions such as tagging and indexing, mechanisms for datasecurity and access control, media-specific data management, complexsearch functions via metadata as well as automatic image contentrecognition, support of the workflow during media production, versionmanagement and administration as well as management of copyrights,digital signatures, watermarks and licenses.

Processing Media Data

There are several possibilities for processing image data. As shown inFIG. 1, conventional systems begin by creating a media file from thevideo signal in a high resolution (high resolution—HiRes) file format,such as ProRes 4:2:2 HD, DNX HD, etc. In cutting systems, when cutting acontribution/program a cutting list is created which is based on thehigh-resolution image material and sound material.

After the media file (HighRes file) has been created and stored in thestorage facility, a process of rendering and transcoding begins in orderto create a “low-resolution” file from this high-resolution format ofthe file, in particular in order to make the media file accessible viathe internet, for example. In the jargon the result may also be called alow-resolution (LoRes) proxy file (LowRes file) which is used forreviewing and editing in the network. These low-resolution media filesencode the media data for example with the aid of a H.264 code.

This transcoding process takes about ¼ to ⅙ of the time which the mediadata (e.g. the film or more generally a recording) in high-resolutionneeds for playback in real time. This process requires a lot ofcomputing power since a transcoding process has to initially decodeinternally all data and then has to encode it using anotherlow-resolution codec (e.g. transcoding from a XD CAM HDS codec into aH.264 codec). Normally the entire computing power of the computer whichexecutes such a transcoding is used and blocked. The low-resolutionmedia content is not available for viewing via e.g. the internet or inthe network (e.g. LAN) until after it has been transcoded as LoResfiles. Furthermore it also means that in case a certain material of thehigh-resolution media file is to be used at another location, thehigh-resolution media file must first be transmitted—by means of asatellite feed, for example—to the destination, involvingcorrespondingly huge amounts of data to be moved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to propose a system which permitsaccess to the media data within seconds from the start of recordingthem, no matter where in the world they are located. In particular it isdesirable that the system permits reviewing and further processing ofthe media data within seconds from starting to record them.

According to one aspect of the invention a high-resolution (HiRes) mediastream is generated from the recorded media data present for example asa digital high-resolution video signal by means of a high-resolutioncodec, and at the same time a low-resolution (LoRes) media stream isgenerated from the same recorded media data by means of a low-resolutioncodec, both of which can then be accessed directly via the internet or anetwork. These media streams can also be regarded as a growing filebecause newly encoded media data are constantly added. The codec for thehigh-resolution media stream may, for example, be a file-based formatfor electronic reporting such as XD CAM HD, and the codec for thelow-resolution media stream may, for example, be a H.264 codec, MPEG2codec or a VC-1 codec.

A further aspect of the invention is the efficient “tagging” of themedia data by adding metadata containing e.g. the content of the mediadata, location, date, time of recording, etc. The proposed systempermits, by means of the metadata, to search for and locate mediacontents or to index the same. “Tagging” is based on the low-resolutionmedia stream and this process can therefore also begin as soon as thefirst parts of the low-resolution media stream and/or of thehigh-resolution media stream are present. If “tagging” is based on themedia stream with low resolution, only a small amount of data needs tobe communicated to a corresponding work place (computer) for “tagging”.By this means the amount of data to be transmitted can be significantlyreduced because there is no need for the high-resolution media stream tobe available for this operation. This also allows “tagging” to becarried out independently of the location, because the low-resolutionmedia stream can be transmitted to any location (i.e. a computerconnected to the internet or a network) including using very narrowbandwidths.

The “tagging” of the media data is carried out in a format which allowsindividual metadata to be allocated either to the media stream as awhole or to individual sequences or images therein. The format for themetadata is configured such that individual meta-information isallocated both to the corresponding sequences or images in thelow-resolution media stream and in the high-resolution media stream,even if “tagging” is performed only by means of the low-resolution mediastream and/or the high-resolution media stream. For example, as early asduring generation of the two media streams, it is ensured that therespective images or sequences in both streams are given the sameidentification code, such as a time code. Correspondingly the metadataare linked with identification codes allowing them to be allocated tocorresponding images or sequences.

Last but not least therefore it is possible, in an exemplaryimplementation, to perform a rough cut of the media data by way of thelow-resolution and/or high-resolution media stream and optionally on thebasis of the associated metadata on a computer. Even if the metadata arenot mandatory for cutting, it is advantageous for an editor to defineindividual entry points into the media stream or sequences therein, notin an abstract manner by way of the identification codes, but toidentify corresponding entry points into the media streams or sequencestherein for cutting, with the aid of individual metadata. In anexemplary implementation the cutting computer and the computer fortagging may be one and the same computer (or in other words, the cuttingsoftware and the logging software for tagging may be installed on onecomputer or configured as one or more components of a software). It isalso possible for the computer to act as a transcoding apparatus, i.e.to receive the preferably high-resolution media data and convert theminto the media streams with high resolution and low resolution.Alternatively this may be carried out externally, e.g. by means of aso-called media stream box.

The use of identification codes synchronised between the low-resolutionand the high-resolution media stream (and the fact that metadata can beallocated to both streams) makes it possible for a rough cut based onthe low-resolution or high-resolution media stream or the cuttinginformation to be applied also to the media data of the low-resolutionor high-resolution media stream. Correspondingly the rough cut based onthe low-resolution media stream permits a material selection from thehigh-resolution media stream and vice versa. Thus the high-resolutionmedia data necessary for fine-cutting may be requested from thehigh-resolution media stream based on the rough-cut data (i.e.corresponding information describing the required images and imagesequences in the high-resolution media stream for example by means ofthe identification codes). In contrast to a conventional system, onlyparts of the high-resolution media data may be requested and transmittedfrom their respective storage location, thereby possibly obviating theneed for a satellite link. This can, for example, be advantageous fornews and quick live reporting, where media data of good quality must betransmitted quickly and above all in a reviewed state, to the respectiveplace of broadcasting.

Metadata for all media data processed by the system are stored in adatabase and linked with the corresponding low-resolution orhigh-resolution media streams. The low-resolution and high-resolutionmedia streams also can be stored in databases for access at a laterdate. Linking the metadata and the low-resolution and high-resolutionmedia streams may be effected, for example, via correspondingidentifiers (IDs) associated with the metadata and the media stream inthe databases. Alternatively the low-resolution and high-resolutionmedia streams and the metadata themselves may comprise additionalinformation which permits linking the media stream with the metadata andoptionally also among each other.

As a result it is possible, using the metadata, to search for certaincontents/information in the various recorded media data, to determinethe corresponding low-resolution media streams in the differentdatabases/storage locations, which match the search criteria, and tothen request these for a precutting as already described. As such it ispossible to create a precutting of a media contribution, which is basedon several different media data without having to transmit all thehigh-resolution media data required for the cutting of the entire mediacontribution over a network.

One embodiment of the invention relates to a media system whichcomprises a transcoding apparatus which preferably receiveshigh-resolution media data and converts these into a media stream withlow resolution and a media stream with high resolution and provides themwith an identical media stream identifier, wherein individual images ofthe media data in both media streams are provided with identicalidentification codes by the transcoding apparatus. The media systemfurther comprises a logging apparatus which receives the media streamwith low resolution (and optionally also the media stream with highresolution) and displays the media data therefrom to a user, wherein thelogging apparatus is further arranged to provide the media data as awhole, individual image sequences or images therefrom with metadata. Theindividual metadata are allocated, with the aid of the identificationcodes, to individual image sequences or images of the media stream withlow resolution or the media stream with high resolution and combinedwith the media data by means of the media stream identifier.

In a further embodiment the media system further comprises a firstcutting apparatus which receives the media stream with low resolutionand the associated metadata and enables the user to create a cut listfor cutting the media data of the media stream with now resolution usingthe metadata.

The media system may further comprise a second cutting apparatus which,with the aid of the cutting list for cutting the media data, obtains theparts of the media stream with high resolution necessary for cutting themedia data via a network and enables a user to cut the media data basedon the obtained parts of the media stream with high resolution.

In an exemplary embodiment the first cutting apparatus inserts into thecutting list the media stream identifier of the media stream with lowresolution in order to enable the second cutting apparatus to receivethe corresponding media stream with high resolution. Further the cuttinglist generated by the first cutting apparatus can identify the parts ofthe media stream with the aid of identification codes of the images.

According to a further embodiment of the invention the first cuttingapparatus allows cutting based on slogans and identifications in themetadata and is capable of translating these into identification codesof the images for generating the cutting list, in order to identifyparts of the media stream.

The media stream with low resolution may preferably comprise a lowbitrate, preferably in the range of 0.5 Mbit/s to 2 Mbit/s. The mediastream with high resolution may comprise a high bitrate, preferably 50Mbit/s or higher.

The media system according to a further embodiment of the invention mayfurther comprise one or more metadata databases, which receive themetadata via a network and store them, and/or receive and store one ormedia databases, which are sent by the two media streams generated bythe transcoding apparatus over a network.

The invention relates further to a method for editing media data.According to the method a transcoding apparatus receives preferablyhigh-resolution media data and converts these into a media stream withlow resolution and a media stream with high resolution. Further thetranscoding apparatus provides the two media streams with an identicalmedia stream identifier. The method further comprises adding anidentical identification code into the individual images of the mediadata corresponding to one another into the two media streams by thetranscoding apparatus.

The media stream with low resolution, optionally also the media streamwith high resolution and its/their media data, are further received in alogging apparatus which displays the media data to a user. Further,according to the method metadata are added to the media stream as awhole, to individual image sequences or to images therefrom by thelogging apparatus, wherein the individual metadata, with the aid of theidentification code, are allocated to individual image sequences orimages of the received media stream or streams and are combined with themedia data with the aid of the media stream identifier.

In a further embodiment the method further comprises receiving the mediastream with low resolution and the associated metadata in a firstcutting apparatus and creating a cutting list for the cutting of themedia data of the media stream with low resolution using the metadata bythe first cutting apparatus.

In a further embodiment the method further comprises receiving the partsof the transcoding apparatus necessary for cutting the media data, via anetwork by a second cutting apparatus using the cutting list. The secondcutting apparatus enables a user to cut the media data based on thereceived parts of the media stream with high resolution.

In a further embodiment the method further comprises coupling severalstream boxes in a network together so that simultaneous joint “tagging”can be effected for several media data sources for the respectivehigh-resolution or low-resolution media streams. The individual mediastreams from the different media data sources can be combined inso-called projects and provided with the same media stream identifier.Correspondingly it is possible to simultaneously effect corresponding“tagging” for individual media sources or simultaneously for several ofthe media sources.

For “tagging” the logging software can be adapted accordingly (e.g.single-mode and multi-mode) in order to permit editing of the individualmedia data sources or of a group of several media data sources. Thus itis possible, for example, to realise a pre-selection (“live”—precutting)of the desired image material and sound material based on thelow-resolution media streams of several media data sources and to makethese available as a cutting list.

In a further embodiment the method further comprises administration ofall necessary components of the media system and gives the user controlof the media system via an interface. Administration encompasses, amongothers, administration of direct and indirect memory accesses, a versionmanagement for controlling the different states of the media data, acheck-in/check-out system for the controlled provision of media data andmetadata, the rights management (DRM) for image rights andadministrative rights, the processing of purchases and sales, time andhour management as well as long-term archiving.

Similarly in a further embodiment it encompasses distribution of themedia contents created by means of the media system. The media streamsgenerated or any contributions/programs edited therefrom in high or lowresolution may for example be transmitted to mobile devices such asmobile phones, smartphones and tablet PCs, apps of all operatingsystems, playout on tapes, data carriers such as CDs, DVDs or blue-rayvia FTP, Internet, extranet, intranet and e-business-portals. Digitaltelevision, multimedia services such as livestream, IP-TV and the supplyof social networks (Facebook, twitter, YouTube . . . ) cover allpossibilities.

A further aspect of the invention relates to the implementation ofindividual functions of the media system in software. Accordingly theinvention also relates to computer-readable media which store commandswhich, when executed by a processor of a computer, cause the computer torealise the corresponding functions. For example, in one embodimentcommands of a software are stored on a computer-readable medium, whichcommands when executed by the computer, enable the user to provide mediastreams with slogans and commentaries (tagging). A further embodimentrelates to a software which enables the user to find media contents inmedia databases, metadata-bases etc. of the media system, and to cut aprogram or a contribution from the selected media contents. Further afurther embodiment relates to a software which provides an interface tothe media databases, metadata-bases etc. of the media system and whichprocesses the search queries and requests for media contentsaccordingly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention will now be described in detail with reference toexemplary embodiments shown in the figures. Elements and details in thefigures corresponding to each other are marked with the same referencesymbols.

FIG. 1 shows a conventional media system in which a program is initiallystored as a high-resolution media file, which is then transcoded into alow-resolution media file.

FIG. 2 shows a comparison over time between the system of FIG. 1 and amedia system according to the invention which works with media streams,and

FIG. 3 shows a media system according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 3 shows the media system according to an embodiment of theinvention. As already mentioned it is an aspect of the invention togenerate, from the recorded media data present for example as a digitalhigh-resolution video signal, a high-resolution media stream (HiResstream) by means of a high-resolution codec and, at the same time, togenerate from the same recorded media data a low-resolution media stream(LoRes stream) by means of a low-resolution codec, which streams canthen be accessed via the internet or a network, as illustrated in FIG.2. Thus it is possible, after a short time of the source material beingavailable, to transmit a low-resolution media stream in the Internet vianarrow-band networks.

In FIG. 3 the source material is provided to a media stream box whichcan be realised using, for example, a computer system specially designedfor the transcoding of media data. The media stream box simultaneouslytranscodes the recorded media data into the high-resolution media stream(HiRes stream) and the low-resolution media stream (LoRes stream). Theimages corresponding to each other in the media streams are provided bythe media stream box with the same identification codes, e.g. identicaltime codes, so that identical images in the two media streams can beidentified by an identifier. The media stream box is also connected to anetwork via which the high-resolution media stream (HiRes stream) andthe low-resolution media stream (LoRes stream) can be transmitted to amedia database and optionally to one or more media-logging computers.Further the media stream box provides the two media streams with anunique media stream identifier (e.g. a generated unique identifier—UID),by means of which media streams of the same content belonging to eachother can be found in the media database.

In order to reduce the amount of data to be transmitted via theInternet, it is advantageous if the media database that is to store theat least high-resolution media stream is located within the (wired oroptical) network, in which the media stream box is also located. Thelow-resolution media stream can be shared in the same or in anothermedia database/storage location.

In one embodiment the media stream box is implemented as a PC systemwhich is operated with a bootable operating system (hard disc, chip ornetwork). The PC system may be equipped with a graphic card, monitor,mouse and keyboard. Additionally a special graphic card is installedwhich permits the processing of SD and HD SDI video signals. Thesoftware required for transcoding and configuration is also installed ona data carrier and may be optionally protected against copying by adongle. This software is used to transcode the fed-in source materialinto several files, either locally or via the network. The media streambox may further encompass established interfaces such as USB, firewireetc. and be connected to the network/the Internet. Moreover it ispossible to operate as many stream boxes as liked in parallel in thenetwork. All stream boxes in the network are kept synchronised by meansof a software so that the identification codes which are variable overtime (e.g. time stamp) are uniformly “clocked” among each other.

The media data may, for example, be encoded using a SD or HD SDI codecand come from an outside broadcast van, a (HD) camera, a satellite feed,an optical storage medium (e.g. Professional Disc, Blu-Ray disc, etc.),a tape, etc. It is advantageous but not mandatory that the recordedmedia data are present as source material for processing in ahigh-resolution format with a bit rate of approx. 50 Mbit/s or higher.The image resolution of the source material may be 720p, 1080i or evenhigher. But again this is not mandatory.

The codec for the high-resolution media stream may for example be in astreaming-capable format such as XD CAM HD, the codec for thelow-resolution media stream may e.g. be a H.264 codec, MPEG2 codec orVC-1 codec.

The data rate of the high-resolution media stream may e.g. be in therange of approx. 50 Mbit/s and higher, but lower data rates in thetwo-digit Mbit/s range are also possible. Advantageously the imageresolution of the high-resolution media stream should be 720p, 1080i or1080p or higher. But a lower resolution is also possible.

The low-resolution media stream should comprise a data rate such that itcan be transmitted without problems via networks with narrow bandwidths(e.g. mobile networks) and should be in the range of 1-2 Mbit/s, forexample. In one embodiment of the invention the image resolution of thelow-resolution media stream corresponds to that of the high-resolutionmedia stream. Optionally it is possible that the low-resolution mediastream is made available to the public directly via the Internet, e.g.via YouTube or similar portals.

A further aspect of the invention is the efficient “tagging” of themedia data by adding metadata which for example include the content ofthe media data, location, date, time of recording, etc. The proposedsystem makes it possible, by means of the metadata, to search for andfind or index media contents. The “tagging” may be based on thelow-resolution media stream. But it is possible that the high-resolutionmedia stream is also present and thus both media streams can be providedwith metadata. This process may begin as soon as the first parts of thelow-resolution media stream are present.

The “tagging” based on the low-resolution media stream may beparticularly advantageous because only a small amount of data needs tobe transmitted to a workplace (computer) for “tagging” so that theamount of data to be transmitted can be significantly reduced. Since thehigh-resolution media stream does not need to be available for thisoperation, “tagging” may be effected independently of the locationbecause the low-resolution media stream, even using very narrowbandwidths, can be transmitted to any location (i.e. any computerconnected to the Internet or a network).

In the embodiment of FIG. 3 tagging is effected by means of amedia-logging computer which permits editorial recognition,registration, and evaluation of image sequences in live operation via acorresponding user interface. Optionally tagging and transcoding can beimplemented on one computer. The low-resolution media stream andpossibly also the high-resolution media stream is visually displayed tothe user on a media-logging computer. In an exemplary embodiment theuser can choose between displaying the low-resolution media stream orthe high-resolution media stream by means of the user interface and/orchange over between them. It is also possible for the user interface toallow the user to move in the respectively shown media stream by meansof a shuttle function.

Displaying and/or tagging may be effected either in parallel with thecontinuous generation of the low-resolution media stream (so-to-speak“live”) or alternatively the user may select a media content fortagging, whereupon the associated low-resolution media stream and/orhigh-resolution media stream is requested from the corresponding mediadatabase/storage location via the network and transmitted (e.g.streamed) to the media-logging computer. During the tagging process theimage material and sound material currently being processed is enrichedwith metadata in that, for example, its content is visually analysed bythe user and indexed/tagged according to editorially specified criteria.

Tagging of the media data is effected in a format which allows toallocate individual metadata either to the media stream as a whole or toindividual sequences or images therein. For example, all metadata for amedia stream are linked to its media stream identifiers in order to beable to allocate the metadata to the corresponding media data in themedia database(s). The format for the metadata is laid out such that theindividual meta-information contains information which is allocated toboth the corresponding sequences or images in the low-resolution mediastream and the high-resolution media stream, even although tagging isonly effected by means of the low-resolution media stream orhigh-resolution media stream.

For example, it is already ensured upon generation of the two mediastreams that the respective images or sequences in both streams areprovided with an identical identification code, such as a time code.Correspondingly the metadata are linked to identification codes so thatthey can be associated to corresponding images or sequences. Forexample, in order to identify and associate the individual metadata toindividual images or image sequences within the media stream, thecorresponding metadata can comprise an identification code (e.g. timecode) of the corresponding image or information about the identificationcodes for first and last image of a sequence. A time code may forexample be in the format hh:mm:ss:ff, wherein hh indicates the hour, mmthe minutes, ss the seconds and ff the number of individual imagesrelative to the beginning of the media stream.

A sequence of images may for example be indicated in the metadata withthe aid of the identification code of the first and last image in thesequence or by identification of the first image of the sequence and thelength of the sequence (e.g. as the number of images, time duration inmilliseconds, or seconds, a combination of the before-mentionedparameters, etc.).

It is also possible to couple the logging computer to a system forrecording measured data, which system gathers measured data providedwith an identification code (e.g. time code). The data may, for example,be determined periodically. As such it is possible, in the metadata, toautomatically allocate measured values to individual images or imagesequences in the media data by means of the identification code andstore them together with other values in the metadata database. Forexample, in the case of motorcar races the racing teams already record(periodically, partially in second cycles or operation-dependent)vehicle-related measured data provided with a time code such as position(e.g. GPS data), gear, accelerator position, brake pedal position,steering wheel angle etc. These measured data can be fed into thelogging computer and/or the metadata database and stored as part of themetadata, linked with the corresponding images of the media data bymeans of the time code.

The created metadata thus contain information known about the content ofthe processed media data, but not directly readable from its contentsuch as file name, date created and amended, size, media streamidentifier, measured data etc. As such metadata may contain detailsabout the subject and content of the media data which, as researchablekey terms, enable the content-based classification and retrieval of thematerial. Features of metadata creation are, among others:

-   -   providing an arbitrary number of metadata categories and        keywords for a media stream    -   several levels for categories and keywords    -   multi-lingual administration of keywords and categories    -   multi-lingual tagging and image descriptions    -   no limitations in the number of possible languages    -   authorising systems for safeguarding access and for the        protection of information    -   etc.

The metadata are stored in a metadata database which for example may beimplemented as a XML database. The metadata database is connected withthe media-logging computer via a network so that the media-loggingcomputer, following tagging, can store the metadata in a metadatadatabase. Further the metadata in the metadata database can be accessedvia the network. The metadata can be stored hierarchically in a XMLdatabase. A multitude of applications is thus possible because themeta-information about the media data can be exchanged independently ofplatform between different systems. XML offers the possibility to breakthe media contents down to the smallest content components and todeposit its logical context by means of a tree structure and provide itwith meta-information if required.

The structure of the XML files is defined by a XML scheme which isstored in a directory. For communication with several differentdirectory services, XML or the DSML (directory service markup language)derived therefrom is used for the neutral description of the storeddata, which means that it is possible to work relatively independentlyof existing data models. Consolidating thereof can be described usingother portals. In these portals user-specific information is prepared byway of the organisational structure and further sorting criteria.

The media system offers the possibility of conducting a data exchangewith almost any storage system or of assuming the logging anddistribution activities for such a system. Data is created, stored andmay be synchronised with other stores. The media data remain unchangedbecause they were already recorded in the correct codec, and themetadata can be allocated without problems by means of the media streamidentifier.

Further the metadata for one or more media streams can be stored inso-called log files in the one or more metadata databases. Individuallog files can be allocated to individual media streams, several mediastreams or an entire project by the user by means of a logging apparatusand can be optionally edited/modified.

FIG. 3 shows the media-logging computer as a single computer system. Itgoes without saying that an arbitrary number of media-logging computerscan be provided which need not all be installed at the same location(i.e. in the same wired or optical network). The media-logging computerscan therefore be made available independently of the storage location ofthe high-resolution media streams because for tagging they only need thelow-resolution media streams. Similarly it is also possible for themedia-logging computers to be connected via wireless networks, such as amobile network, WLAN or WiMAX network, i.e. location-independent. Forexample, the media-logging computers can also be realised as apps onsmartphones, table PCs, conventional home computers etc.

For example, a client software for tagging and/or for cutting based onlow-resolution image material can be realised in a standard browser(e.g. Internet Explorer, Mozilla, Google Chrome, Apple Safari etc.).This may comprise for example an access software for login into anaccess control system (see information management service/DML service ofthe media access server). Login may be via a LAN, intranet, Internetetc. The registration data may be client-specific.

As already mentioned the high-resolution media streams and thelow-resolution media streams can be stored in one or more mediadatabases. The media database(s) are connected to a network so that theycan be accessed via a computer. The media database(s) may be implementedas a storage system based on NAS (network attached storage), SAN(storage area network) or SAS (serial attached SCSI) techniques.

Access to the media database(s) (not shown in FIG. 3) and/or themetadata database(s) may be effected via one or more media accessservers (not shown in FIG. 3). In an exemplary embodiment an informationmanagement service (e.g. DML service) is used for this in order torealise and control access to all information in the databases. To thisend the DMLS (Digital Media Library Service) may be realised as asoftware which from the outside looks like a standard file system (UFSor NFS) and is thus completely transparent.

The DML service is responsible for reception and storage of the metadatacreated on the logging computers and of the high-resolution mediastreams and low-resolution media streams. It manages the storagelocations in the dynamic storage system, in the memory as such and inthe long-term archive. The storage location of the high-resolution mediastreams and low-resolution media streams (and their metadata) isdetermined by the properties and the class membership (in the metadata)of the information to be stored. Further the DML service controls accessto the information in the databases. For example the DML service enablessearch queries to be executed in the metadata and as such can retrieveand provide media data/contents.

All media data processed by the system may be stored in a database andare linked to the corresponding low-resolution and high-resolution mediastream. The low-resolution and high-resolution media streams are stored,as described, in corresponding databases/storage locations in order tobe able to access them later via e.g. a media access server. In this wayit also becomes possible, using the metadata, to search in differentrecorded media data for certain contents/information, to determine thecorresponding low-resolution media streams in the databases/storagelocations corresponding to the search criteria and to then request thesefor a “precutting”. As such a precutting of a media contribution basedon several different media data can be generated without thehigh-resolution media data being necessary for cutting the total mediacontribution having to be transmitted as a whole via a network.

FIG. 3 in this context shows a precutting computer which permitsreviewing the existing media material and cutting acontribution/program. The precutting computer executes a cuttingsoftware which a. o. allows the user to search the databases forcontents. As already described, access (and the search for contents) maybe realised via the media access server (or its information managementservice such as a DML service). The cutting software allows the user toformulate search queries. The search terms entered are then searched forby the media access server in the metadata stored in the metadatadatabases, and any hits are transmitted back to the precutting computervia a network.

Here they are displayed in order to enable the user to make furthersuitable content selections for the desired program (contribution) to becut. Dependent on user input the precutting computer requests one ormore low-resolution media streams and optionally further associatedmetadata via the media access server from the database(s) and displaysthe one or more low-resolution or high-resolution media streams to theuser by means of the cutting software. The media streams are identifiedby means of their media stream identifiers contained in the associatedmetadata of the hit list.

Based on the low-resolution and/or high-resolution material and theassociated metadata the user can now prepare a precutting list whichidentifies the contents required for the program (contribution) to becut. Cutting may include using the metadata which is translated by theprecutting computer into the desired media streams and the correspondingimages or image sequences thereof and identified information in thecutting list.

By using the cutting software with which the audio and video materialcan be searched, taken in and processed via the network, and by makingan input into a search mask, the user can for example cause theprecutting computer to find all media streams, in which accidents orovertaking manoeuvres of a certain Formula I driver occur. The metadataobtained in this way identify the individual media streams by means ofthe media stream identifier and also indicate the entry point (or thecorresponding image sequence) into the individual media streams by meansof the identification codes in the metadata. This enables the user toquickly search for desired contents and to selectively include them in acutting list directly or following further reviewing. The cutting listthen identifies the desired sequences or images of the median streams bymeans of the media stream identifier and identification codes.

The completed cutting list of the cut can be optionally stored in adatabase in order to access it by means of another cutting system (e.g.for fine-cutting). The cutting list can be retrieved by again providingit with corresponding metadata.

Using the cutting list a further “fine-cut” can then be effected, basedon the high-resolution material. In FIG. 3 the fine-cut, as an example,is carried out on a further fine-cut computer. But it is also possibleto perform the pre-cut and fine-cut on one computer (with a cutsoftware). In this case it would also be possible, using the metadata inthe first hit list, to immediately request parts of the low-resolutionor high-resolution media streams from the databases/storage locationsfor further cutting. However it probably is preferable, as a rule, toconduct a further review and more accurate selection of material by wayof the low-resolution material, in particular if the cutting computer isnot connected with the network/Internet via a broadband connection.

The fine-cut computer receives the cutting list either from a precuttingcomputer or from a database and requests, depending on the hits content,the parts of the high-resolution media stream or streams required forthe cut via the network from the one or more media databases/storagelocations. This access can again be effected via the media accessserver. Based on the high-resolution image and the sound material theuser can now cut the desired program (contribution) and optionallyprovide it with the corresponding metadata. The cut program(contribution) can then be broadcast in the conventional manner orstored in a media database/storage location etc. In one embodiment ofthe invention the fine-cut is performed simultaneously on thelow-resolution and the high-resolution media streams, so that a cutprogram (contribution) is available both in low-resolution quality (forexample for distribution via the Internet) and in high-resolutionquality (for example for distribution via digital radio, recording onstorage media etc.).

A cutting computer (for precutting and/or fine-cut) can be implemented,like the media-logging computer, in the most varied form. In oneembodiment the media-logging computer and the cutting computer areimplemented as one computer. Again, any number of cutting computers canbe provided which need not be necessarily installed in the same place(i.e. in the same wired or optical network). The precutting computerscan thus be made available independently from the storage location ofthe high-resolution media streams because they only need thelow-resolution media streams for the cut, and only selected parts of thehigh-resolution material have to be retrieved from the databases for thefine-cut, provided this is carried out on the same computer.Correspondingly it is also possible for the cutting computers to beconnected via wireless networks such as a mobile network, WLAN or WiMAX.The cutting computers for example may also be realised as apps onsmartphones, tablet PCs, conventional home computers etc.

The described media system thus allows the different media contents tobe provided in different ways to target groups in a controlleduse-oriented manner. This may include active components such as dispatchby email, data carriers or circulars as well as passive publication onwebsites and portals, where the target group helps itself to theinformation.

The cut programs and contributions, as already mentioned, can againthemselves be stored in one or more media databases where they can beavailable in a high-resolution and a low resolution media file. The cutprograms and contributions can then be accessed via a media portalcomparable to an exhibition space. This exhibition space may be realisedas an additional software component with which the high-resolution orlow-resolution material of a program or contribution is transcoded usingthe desired codec. It is thus possible, for example, to offer a programor contribution produced by means of the media system in the most variedformats and adapt it to the respective distribution platform (e.g.Facebook, YouTube, DVD, . . . ).

As already mentioned the media system may also encompass a plurality ofmedia stream boxes. In a further embodiment of the invention these mediastream boxes are synchronised in the network and generate, from therespective incoming high-resolution media data, several synchronouslyheld (as regards their identification codes, e.g. time codes) mediastreams (respectively in high and low resolution).

Further it is possible to combine the incoming media data from varioussources to form a common project (e.g. different camera settings at alive event). To this end the media stream boxes may provide thehigh-resolution and low resolution media streams of a project all withthe same project identifier (project ID). By means of the loggingsoftware the media streams of the project (or the low-resolution andhigh-resolution media stream pairs) can be provided individually, ingroups or all together with metadata. Similarly it is possible to add tothese projects, or import into them, media data from other sources (e.g.hand-held cameras, helicopter pictures, slow motions, photos, etc.),possibly subsequently or while recording is going on. It is advantageousif these added media data also comprise identification codessynchronised with the other media data of the project because this makesit possible to link already existing metadata to the added media data.

The cutting system of the media system (e.g. the precutting computerand/or the fine-cut computer, or a combined device with which aprogram/contribution can be cut) can, as in the previously describedembodiments, search and query, by means of the metadata, contents,slogans, etc. in the media database(s)/storage location(s). If all mediastreams of the project are provided with the same metadata, a searchquery will supply hits in the metadata of all media streams of theproject.

In this way all low-resolution (and depending on implementation of thecutting system all high-resolution) media streams of the project can bemade available.

Insofar as only individual media streams or a group of media streams ina project are provided with metadata, the cutting software can stillidentify all media streams belonging to the project by means of theproject identifier and retrieve them from the media database(s)/storagelocation(s) if required. In one embodiment the user can specify in agraphic user interface of the cutting software, whether he wishes toreceive as hits for his search query, not only the media streams, themetadata of which contain search hits but also the additional mediastreams of the project. Optionally, when requesting a media stream as ahit, the user may also specify in the search, whether or not theassociated media streams of the project are requested as well. Theproject identifier is therefore specified in this request allowing forexample the media access server to load the corresponding media streamsfrom the media database(s)/storage location(s).

It is also possible for the cutting software to display the individualmedia streams of a project in “multi-mode”, where the individual mediastreams of a project are displayed to the user on a screen, synchronisedover time. By means of such a split-screen display (i.e. several windowsare displayed on a screen, containing the respectively streamed imagecontents and identical time codes) of the operation, the respectivemedia streams of the project can be visualised in a simple way, whilstwith the “single-mode” only one media stream is visualised on thescreen.

The media system also allows third parties to access finished programsand contributions or to search the media databases and metadatadatabases and display the contents. Since the media data are availablealso in the form of tagged low-resolution media streams, the contents inthe media system can be accessed without a broadband connection via thenetwork. Access to the media contents is controlled by the media accessserver.

What is claimed is:
 1. A media system comprising: a transcodingapparatus which preferably receives high-resolution media data andconverts these into a media stream with low resolution and a mediastream with high resolution and provides them with an identical mediastream identifier, wherein the individual images of the media data inboth media streams corresponding to each other are provided withidentical identification codes by the transcoding apparatus, such thatrespective images corresponding to each other in both media streams areprovided with the same identification code, a logging apparatus whichreceives the media stream with low resolution and displays the mediadata thereof to a user, wherein the logging apparatus is furtherconfigured to provide either the media data as a whole, individual imagesequences or images therefrom with metadata, wherein the individualmetadata are associated to individual image sequences or images of themedia stream with low resolution using the identification codes and arelinked with the media data using the media stream identifier, whereinthe logging apparatus is adapted to access the media stream with lowresolution and to provide it with metadata.
 2. The media systemaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a first cutting apparatuswhich receives the media stream with low resolution and the associatedmetadata and enables a user to create a cutting list for cutting themedia data of the media stream with low resolution using the metadata.3. The media system according to claim 2, further comprising: a secondcutting apparatus which receives the necessary parts of the media streamwith high resolution via a network using the cutting list for cuttingthe media data and enables a user to cut the media data based on thereceived parts of the media stream with high resolution.
 4. The mediasystem according to claim 2, wherein the first cutting apparatus insertsthe media stream identifier of the media stream with low resolution intothe cutting list in order to enable the second cutting apparatus toreceive the corresponding media stream with high resolution.
 5. Themedia system according to claim 2, wherein the first cutting listgenerated by the first cutting apparatus identifies the parts of themedia stream with the aid of identification codes of the images.
 6. Themedia system according to claim 2, wherein the first cutting apparatuspermits cutting based on slogans and identifications in the metadata andtranslates these for the generation of the cutting list intoidentification codes in order to identify parts of the media stream. 7.The media system according to claim 1, wherein the media stream with lowresolution comprises a low bitrate, preferably in the range from 0.5Mbit/s to 2 Mbit/s.
 8. The media system according to claim 1, whereinthe media stream with high resolution comprises a high bitrate,preferably 50 Mbit/s or higher.
 9. The media system according to claim1, further comprising one or more metadata databases which receive themetadata via a network and store them, and/or one or more mediadatabases which receive the two media streams generated by thetranscoding apparatus via a network and store them.
 10. The media systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the logging apparatus is further adaptedto receive measured data from a measured data system, which data arestored as metadata of the media data in one or more metadata databases,wherein the measured data comprise identification codes, with the aid ofwhich they can be allocated to the images of the media data.
 11. Themedia system according to claim 1, wherein the logging apparatus isadapted to also receive the media stream with high resolution anddisplay the media data therefrom to a user, wherein the individualmetadata are allocated to individual image sequences or images of themedia stream with high resolution with the aid of identification codes,and wherein the logging apparatus is adapted, as soon as the first partsof the media stream with high resolution are present, to access the sameand to provide them with metadata.
 12. A method comprising: receivingpreferably high-resolution media data in a transcoding apparatus,converting the media data into one or more media streams with lowresolution and one or more media streams with high resolution using thetranscoding apparatus, providing the two media streams with an identicalmedia stream identifier using the transcoding apparatus, adding anidentical identification code to the individual corresponding images ofthe media data of the two media streams using the transcoding apparatus,such that respective images corresponding to each other in both mediastreams are provided with the same identification code, receiving themedia stream with low resolution and its media data in a loggingapparatus, displaying the media data of the media stream with lowresolution using the logging apparatus, and adding metadata to the mediadata either as a whole, to individual image sequences or imagestherefrom using the logging apparatus, wherein the individual metadataare associated, to individual image sequences or images of the mediastream with low resolution with the aid of identification codes, and arelinked with the media data with the aid of the media stream identifier.13. The media system according to claim 1, wherein the transcodingapparatus is adapted to receive streams of media data of a project fromdifferent sources, to convert the respective streams of media data intoa media stream with low resolution and a media stream with highresolution, and assigns a project identifier to the media streams withhigh and low resolution, wherein the transcoding apparatus providesrespective individual images of the low resolution and high resolutionsstreams of all or a part of the streams of media data that arecorresponding to each other are provided with identical identificationcodes by the transcoding apparatus to associate the meta data with saidpart of or all the low resolution and high resolutions streams belongingto the project.
 14. The media system of claim 13, wherein thetranscoding apparatus provides an identical media stream identifier forthe high resolution stream and the low resolution steam of a respectiveone of the streams of media data received by the transcoding apparatus.15. The media system according to claim 1, the media system enables asearch for individual image sequences or images within the highresolution and low resolution media streams using the meta data, whereinsaid individual image sequences or images are identifiable using themeta data.